Andhra Pradesh move fuels statue removal demand

HYDERABAD: Following the AP government deciding to drop Telangana-related material from AP textbooks, senior TS ministers want the CM to remove statues of AP leaders and rename parks and institutions after local leaders

Minister Harish Rao said, “This issue is already under consideration of the government. Since AP does not want Telangana history to be part of its syllabus now, the time has come for TS too to act on removing statues and names of AP leaders.”

The matter acquired fresh impetus after the Chief Minister had said at a press conference on Wednesday: “We are thankful to the AP government for showing us the way on how to go forward over removing statues and changing names. There are several things belonging to AP here, which are no longer required in Telangana.”

Following the remarks, ministers and TRS MLAs have begun submitting proposals regarding removal of statues and renaming parks and roads in their districts.

TS employees’ leader and Mahbubnagar MLA V. Srinivas Goud has submitted a list that includes Kasu Brahmananda Reddy Park, Kotla Vijayabhaskar Reddy Stadium, GMC Balayogi Stadium and Dr Y.S.R. National Institute of Tourism and Hospitality Management.

He has also sought the removal of statues of YSR from Somjiguda Crossroads and in other districts. The TS government has already renamed the former N.G. Ranga Agricultural University after Telangana ideologue Prof A. Jayashankar.